It's full speed ahead for versatile speed skater Hayden Coyer

Dan Chalkchalk@mdn.net

Published
1:31 am EST, Friday, February 22, 2019

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Life is full speed ahead for 14-year-old Hayden Coyer.

Coyer, an eighth-grader at Northeast Middle School and a member of the Midland Speed Skating Club (MSSC), won three gold medals in speed skating recently at the Special Olympics Michigan State Winter Games in Traverse City.

Coyer won the 800-meter race in one minute, 47.17 seconds, the 500-meter race in one minute, 9.28 seconds and the 300-meter race in 38.52 seconds.

"What I love about speed skating is, it's fun and I like to go fast. And I have lots of friends that speed skate with me as well," said Coyer, whose other passions include lomboarding, hoverboarding, skateboarding and scootering.

Coyer has two brothers who are also speed skaters and competes regularly in meets with the MSSC in addition to Special Olympics competitions.

He also aspires to make the U.S. speed skating team for the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Sweden in 2021.

Hayden Coyer wears his three speed skating gold medals from the recent Special Olympics Michigan State Winter Games in Traverse City. (Photo provided)

Hayden Coyer wears his three speed skating gold medals from the recent Special Olympics Michigan State Winter Games in Traverse City. (Photo provided)

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Hayden Coyer wears his three speed skating gold medals from the recent Special Olympics Michigan State Winter Games in Traverse City. (Photo provided)

Hayden Coyer wears his three speed skating gold medals from the recent Special Olympics Michigan State Winter Games in Traverse City. (Photo provided)

It's full speed ahead for versatile speed skater Hayden Coyer

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Coyer is coached by his mother, Brandi Coyer, and also by Adam Hancock, Richard Smith and Cilla Jones.

Coyer, who is autistic, is a member of Bay/Arenac County Area 9 Special Olympics. He has been speed skating with the MSSC for 10 years and has been competing in Special Olympics for five years. Coyer has placed among the top skaters in both MSSC meets and Special Olympics meets, Brandi Coyer said.

"He likes to win, and he practices hard and takes it very seriously," Brandi Coyer said of her son. "He keeps it fun and is always smiling when he (practices)."

But Hayden Coyer is just as happy to see other athletes succeed as well.

"You'll see him, when he's not racing, cheering on the other athletes," Brandi Coyer said. "He's just a great athlete, a great team player and a great cheerleader.

"Even when he doesn't have a good race, he comes off (the ice) smiling," she added. "He couldn't care less about the medal. He just likes the race."

In terms of her son's Olympic aspirations, Brandi Coyer said that his finishing times are very competitive.

"He currently has some of the fastest times out there," said Brandi Coyer, who is president of the Midland Speed Skating Club. "(Officials) for Special Olympics Michigan have started to take notice of how good Hayden is."

Brandi Coyer said her understanding is that Michigan has not had a speed skater in the World Winter Games since 2009. The World Winter Games are held every four years.